Venezuelans Flood the Streets to Celebrate Maduro’s Removal

Venezuelans across the globe poured into the streets to celebrate the rapid fall of socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro’s regime, marking an emotional moment for millions who fled the country over decades of economic ruin, repression, and political collapse.

Although much of the celebration took place abroad, where millions of Venezuelan citizens have resettled after fleeing socialism-driven economic devastation, signs of jubilation also emerged inside Venezuela itself.

Aerial footage showed a sizable crowd gathered in an open area of Caracas just hours after reports of Maduro’s capture.

Nighttime videos filmed from high-rise balconies in Caracas were filled with the sound of people banging pots and pans, a traditional form of protest in Venezuela, as lights flashed across apartment towers.

Street-level footage showed a group tearing down a Maduro poster amid applause and cheering, described as locals reacting to the news from inside the country.

Caracas amanece con venezolanos gritando “libertad”, aplaudiendo y celebrando pic.twitter.com/IFjTxwOq37

— Ana María Diez 🇻🇪 (@AnaMariaDiez) January 3, 2026

Celebrations also broke out across South America and the United States.

In Doral, Florida, home to a large Venezuelan exile community, crowds dressed in Venezuelan and American flag-themed clothing gathered to celebrate Maduro’s downfall and praise President Donald Trump.

Across Florida and other major U.S. cities, Venezuelan Americans, many of whom were forced to flee the authoritarian regime, were seen cheering, waving flags, and embracing as news spread.

Venezuelans gathered early this morning in Doral to celebrate after news broke that the U.S. had captured Nicolás Maduro🇻🇪| #ONLYinDADE pic.twitter.com/mSNaF3IhR3

— ONLY in DADE (@ONLYinDADE) January 3, 2026

Since the rise of Hugo Chávez in 1999 and Maduro’s takeover in 2013, roughly 7.9 million Venezuelans have fled the country amid hyperinflation, food and medicine shortages, economic collapse, and decades of political repression.

The exodus began gradually under Chávez, with about 1.5 million Venezuelans leaving between 1999 and 2014.

After 2015, the crisis exploded, surging from roughly 700,000 Venezuelans abroad to today’s staggering figures.

United Nations estimates place the Venezuelan refugee population at:

• 2.8 million in Colombia
• 1.7 million in Peru
• Hundreds of thousands elsewhere in South America
• Nearly 1 million believed to be in the United States

More celebrations were recorded in nations with large Venezuelan diaspora communities.

Venezuelans in Peru have taken to the streets to celebrate the removal of Nicolas Maduro by President Trump. pic.twitter.com/e2ZKRGHs5w

— George (@BehizyTweets) January 3, 2026

🚨BREAKING: Venezuelan patriots have tears in their eyes as they celebrate the arrest of Socialist dictator Maduro

The MSM won’t show you these scenes. Trump is Latin America’s HERO! 🇻🇪 pic.twitter.com/gS4YyPtIBc

— Inevitable West (@Inevitablewest) January 3, 2026

Opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize recipient María Corina Machado called the moment a turning point for Venezuelan sovereignty:

“The time has come for popular sovereignty in Venezuela and the installation of opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia as the country’s leader.”

Edmundo González Urrutia, recognized by the opposition as Venezuela’s president-elect following what they describe as a rigged election in 2024, issued a message urging unity and national rebuilding.

“Venezuelans, these are decisive hours; know that we are ready for the great operation of the reconstruction of our nation,” he said.

For millions of Venezuelans who endured hunger, exile, and political persecution, the celebrations mark both relief and uncertainty, as the country now faces the immense challenge of rebuilding after decades of socialist destruction.

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